ELSA – 15832

Elsa

Hello, my name is Elsa. My animal id is #15832. I am a desexed female tan dog at the Brooklyn Animal Care Center. The shelter thinks I am about 1 years 1 weeks old.

I came into the shelter as a owner surrender on 10-Dec-2017, with the surrender reason stated as person circumstance- moving – no pets allowed.

Sorry, this pet is for new hope partners only.

Elsa is at risk for behavior concerns (New Hope Only determination). Elsa has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling from selective staff members since intake. She displays touch sensitivity and is very fearful/anxious overall.

Let’s get to know each other a bit more…

Elsa is a bit nervous in the kennel, but once outside she walks calmly on the leash and follows behind me outside. Once in the pen, she jumps up into my arms and lets me pet all over her body. She immediately gets excited when I pull out my treats. She LOVES treats and sits without you even telling her, waiting patiently for me to give it to her. Once I do, she takes it nicely from my hand and waits for more. She jumps up and lets me pet her and puts on her big smile to let you know how much she enjoys it. She jumps around playfully. She is not really interested in toys and would rather be snuggled up under you getting all the loving you can offer. She may be timid, but her heart is anything but Frozen, and once you come see her and give her a chance you will not want to let her go!

Details on my behavior are…

Behavior during intake: Elsa had a tense body and was hiding behind the owner. Counselor was able to scan for a microchip but unable to collar or take a picture due to Elsa growling.

Basic Information:: Elsa is a 1 year old spayed female that has no previous or current medical issues that the owner is aware of. Owner had Elsa for 10 months but had to surrender due to landlord issues.

Previously lived with:: 2 Adults, 1 Newborn

How is this dog around strangers?: Around strangers, Elsa will bark at first and takes a few minutes to get comfortable around someone. Once she is comfortable, she will jump on the person and give kisses.

How is this dog around children?: Owner had a newborn in the home and stated that the newborn was only around Elsa once or twice and Elsa was respectful around the baby.

How is this dog around other dogs?: Owner’s mother had 3 other dogs in the home, 2 males and a female and the owner stated that Elsa would play roughly with the other female dog and has even bit the other dog on the ear when she was being given attention but did not break skin. Around both males dogs, Elsa was always relaxed and respectful.

How is this dog around cats?: Owner did not have a cat in the home so behavior is unknown.

Resource guarding:: Elsa is not bothered when the owner would take away her food, treats or toys.

Bite history:: Elsa has nipped the owners mothers dog several weeks ago but did not break skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: High

For a New Family to Know: Elsa is described as friendly, affectionate, playful and shy around new people. She has a high activity level and likes to play with balls, stuffed animals, squeaky toys, bones and rope toys. In the home, she liked to follow the owner around from room to room. Owner fed Elsa dry food only (different brands). Elsa was kept mostly indoors and is house trained. when left alone in the home, she would destroy household items such as trash bags, sponges, etc. Else knows the cues sit, come,stay,up and paw. For exercise, owner would take Elsa on slow walks on the leash. When on the leash, Elsa tends to pull very hard. Owner has never tried to walk her off leash so behavior is unknown.

Date of intake:: 12/10/2017

Spay/Neuter status:: Yes

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Owner surrender

Previously lived with:: (2) Adults, (1) newborn, (3) dogs

Behavior toward strangers:: Bark, needs time to warm up and then becomes affectionate

Behavior toward children:: Respectful around baby in home

Behavior toward dogs:: Relaxed, respectful, plays rough

Behavior toward cats:: Unknown

Resource guarding:: None reported

Bite history:: Nipped a resident dog on the ear but did not break skin.

Housetrained:: Yes

Energy level/descriptors:: Friendly, affectionate, playful and shy with a high activity level

Summary:: Elsa remains highly uncomfortable in the care center – her level of fear high. Elsa has escalated to threatening behavior directed at handlers on two separate occasions. Out of concern for her stress level and staff safety, Elsa is not considered to be an appropriate candidate for a handling assessment at this time.

Summary (1):: Elsa initially avoids the other dogs when in Group, but as her session continues she displays a soft posture and engages in social interactions. Elsa’s previous guardian reported that she lived with 3 other dogs, 2 males and a female and that she would play roughly with the other female. Around both male dogs, Elsa was always relaxed and respectful. The Behavior Department recommends that Elsa be placed in a home with resident dogs that are respectful and match her calm demeanor. 12/11: When off leash at the Care Center, Elsa does not greet the male helper dog and avoids having any contact with him throughout her session- moving from pen to pen away from him. 12/12: Elsa is slightly more confident around a calm female dog. She greets her with a neutral posture, and follows her around the pen. She explores the pens the rest of her session, and tolerates a persistent male dog. 12/13-14: Elsa spent most of her session interacting with the handlers. She briefly greets the other dog, before exploring the pens. 12/15: Today, Elsa was used a s greeter. She became reactive with an anxious dog.

ENERGY LEVEL:: Elsa is reported to have a high energy level in her previous home environment. Daily mental and physical stimulation is recommended as an outlet to direct her energy and enthusiasm.

IN SHELTER OBSERVATIONS:: 12/14/17: Initially Elsa was shut-down when outside of her kennel and displaying fear-related distance increasing behaviors while in her kennel- barking and snapping when approached. She has begun to warm to certain handlers on the Behavior Team, soliciting attention with a loose and wiggly body, readily accepting handling. However on two of her socialization sessions, novel staff members were in the room. The first incident, a staff member was sitting in a chair and called Elsa over. At the time, Elsa was socializing with two familiar handlers. She turned and looked in the direction of the staff who was sitting down and calling her, then immediately lunged and barked at her. The second incident happened today. Two staff were sitting calmly on the floor with Elsa who was relaxed and readily accepting pets from them. One handler began to get up, slowly and Elsa again barked and lunged at her. She was easy to deescalate and did not redirect when tension in her leash increased.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: NEW HOPE ONLY

Behavior Asilomar: TM – Treatable-Manageable

Recommendations:: Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: Place with a New Hope partner: Elsa has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling from selective staff members since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity:Elsa has been noted to become uncomfortable with handling at times, especially when a person is reaching over her. It is important to always go slow and give Elsa the option to walk away from any social interaction. Elsa should never be forced to approach anything that she is uncomfortable with or to submit to petting or handling. It should always be Elsa’s choice to approach a new person or thing. Elsa may do best in an initially calm and quiet home environment and should be given time to acclimate to her new surroundings. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Reactivity towards other humans was noted in the care center (lunging, growling, barking). Because this appears to present a challenge outside of the care centers, guidance from a professional trainer/behaviorist is highly advised to assess this behavior and modify/manage as needed. It is important to make sure Elsa stays under threshold and is not pushed to escalate further to a bite.

Reader Interactions

Facebook Comments

Comments

these rescues are a disgrace pick and choose im ashamed of you all 300 of you please adopt and pledging means nothing to these people shame on you all for letting of these dogs down with 300 of you and still ogs are killed shameful

many of these rescues are small one´s with very little funds and they are pretty aware of what they expect when they take a nycacc dog in. These poor dogs are mostly sick til very sick and sadly the small rescues are not able to pay for their medical care. That´s the reason why we always see only the big rescues stepping in. Very sad but the truth.

That was a surprise to me, too. Essentially mom and pop run rescues. They may have five fosters they are seeking to permanently rehome. However there are those taking in out of country dogs, ie saved from a meat farm, etc.

I keep looking at beautiful Elsa’s video..smiling..gentle …hugging..wanting to be HUGGED..going back for more..my HEART is BLEEDING FOR YOU…CRYING FOR YOU.
LIVE ON MY BEAUTY..RUN FREE..I WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND REMEMBER YOU. Your video remains etched in my mind ALWAYS.
.YOU MATTERED..YOU REALLY DID MY BEAUTY.

Just beyond sad… Just beyond soul crushing. Where were the 8 million people in New York?? Many dogs saved go to homes out of state! Lucky, who i rescued in Sept from nycacc in Manhattan, was labeled a growler and biter and deemed unfit to live. He’s only 2. He’s all tail wags and kisses and very happy in PA now. NEW YORK OPEN YOUR EYES. NYCACC KEEP YOUR SHELTER CLEAN WITH A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. BRING IN A TRAINED PERSON TO WORK WITH DOGS WHO ARE SCARED. THEY ARE NOT MEAN DOGS, JUST SCARED. PREVENT KENNEL COUGH… ADOPT KENNEL COUGH PREVENTION GUIDELINES. YOU CALL YOURSELF A CARE CENTER, WELL, START ACTING LIKE IT!

WHY WHY WHY – I CANT I JUST CANT – I AM IN TEARS, I AM IN SHOCK, I CANT EVEN CONCENTRATE AT WORK THINKING ABOUT ELSA – WHAT WAS THE RUSH TO KILL HER, DID YOU SEE HER VIDEO, SHE JUST WANTED HUGS AND TO BE LOVED.

OMG I HATE THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN. I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely horrible! These was no reason to kill this beautiful sweetheart. She had so much support. This is shameful! 😡
Elsa was a pretty who deserved a home, not death at the hands of evil NYCACC. Run free as our special fur angel. You were loved very much and mattered to all of us. 😢💔

Primary Sidebar

Please only contact Help Desk if you are interested in adopting or fostering.

Help us keep our dogs safe, and keep our threads open to public comment, by encouraging interested parties to reach out to our HELP DESK. All other inquiries should be directed to the Contact Us at the bottom of the page.

Search Site by Category

Search Site by Category

Footer

Please only contact Help Desk if you are interested in adopting or fostering.

Help us keep our dogs safe, and keep our threads open to public comment, by encouraging interested parties to reach out to our HELP DESK. All other inquiries should be directed to the Contact Us at the bottom of the page.